Monday, May 16, 2005

Lesson to be learned by MSM



Newsweek Apologizes
Inaccurate Report on Koran Led to Riots
By Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post



Let's see now.... an "unreliable, unnamed source", a publication hot to scoop competition, and the result is widespread riots.

Oh... but they are "sorry"....

Is there any more pertinent lesson for the MSM proving they MUST be responsible in their reporting? How many other countless events could this also apply?

If the media refused to give the terrorist one line of publicity, refused to air beheadings, would their murders be as effective?

Would America be so hated if it were not for the unbalanced amount of stories bashing the US?

Would the UN's scandals be such a surprise if the media had been responsible and covered the many UN failures in the past?

Would the enemy know our troops presence and plans so well if the media didn't persist in passing on that information via public communication methods at every opportunity, whining if they don't "know"?

The MSM... all scoop, ambition and obsessed with power. And no heart, responsibility, patriotism or atonement.

Sorry guys... "sorry" just doesn't cut it here. How about some good, ol' fashioned common sense about repercussions instead?

Newsweek apologized yesterday for an inaccurate report on the treatment of detainees that triggered several days of rioting in Afghanistan and other countries in which at least 15 people died.

Editor Mark Whitaker expressed regret over the item in the magazine's "Periscope" section, saying it was based on a confidential source -- a "senior U.S. government official" -- who now says he is not sure whether the story is true.

The deadly consequences of the May 1 report, and its reliance on the unnamed source, have sparked considerable anger at the Pentagon. Spokesman Bryan Whitman called Newsweek's report "irresponsible" and "demonstrably false," saying the magazine "hid behind anonymous sources which by their own admission do not withstand scrutiny. Unfortunately, they cannot retract the damage that they have done to this nation or those who were viciously attacked by those false allegations."

Whitaker said last night that "whatever facts we got wrong, we apologize for. I've expressed regret for the loss of life and the violence that put American troops in harm's way. I'm getting a lot of angry e-mail about that, and I understand it."

(snip) continue reading at link above



Now, while I'm dreaming of a responsible MSM, perhaps I could add in a responsible cinematic crowd... Unlikely, but read on below on more anti-American fodder and the repercussions of lies, bullshit and fiction on humanity's perceptions.

1 comment:

TheBitterAmerican said...

Now, I have to wonder: Will Newsweak pay for all of the damages done from all of this rioting? I guess I shouldn't hold my breath?

**That's my opinion and you're entitled to it!**